I writing to you from Melbourne Australia where I have become fascinated by the prospect of buying the only Matra Djet in this country (a Djet 5). I have already bought a 1:43 model, seen the car, photographed it, and began the price dance. It is very likely that I will buy it as I don't think I can resist.

So as I would like to get FIA papers for it I asking members if the 1108 cc engine that comes with the car (it is fitted with a 1.4 litre Renault Virage engine currently) is the original engine - chassis 10399, engine no 21708 - does that match?

As well the car is reputed to have competed as a privateer vehicle in the 1966 Criterium Des Cevennes in the hands of Allard, is there a way of checking that provenance?

The engine that I have with the car (but not in it) is the correct 1108cc size but I am wanting to find out if this particular engine (plate number 21708) is the engine originally supplied with this chassis, number 10399. Are there records still available that hold this information?

The other thing I want top find out is whether this is the car driven by Allard as a privateer in the 1966 Criterium des Cevennes but I think that this might be like searching for a needle in a haystack! The car was bought with a competition yellow stripe over it the top, ignition kill switch and twin extinguishers in 1967 by an Australian foreign correspondent based in London, by the name of Frank Palmos. He told the subsequent owner that the son of French skier Jean Louis Allard (the first owner) had driven the car in this event but I am looking for any documentary proof.

The search continues. The information I was given regarding the alleged competitor was wrong as there is no noted French skier named Allard. There is however an Allais and it is likely that the driver/owner was Emile Allais Jnr. Somehow I doubt this snippet of information will affect the outcome but one never knows - live in hope, as they say. Regards, Chris Ralph